A resource for working professional photographers and design industry professionals featuring news, commentary, equipment resources, and original articles
After leaving the APAlmanac Architectural Photography Census open for almost six months in 2020, we are here to report the results. An incredible 1,259 professional architectural photographers from all over the world completed and contributed to the survey, which has provided an amazing cross section of how and why we’re working, where we struggle, where we succeed, and so much more.
If you’re looking to add some odds and ends to your gear kit, now is the time!
B&H just announced a three day sale with huge price cuts on hundreds and hundreds of items. I popped over to their site to scope out the deals, and while there aren’t really any big-ticket items like camera bodies or Arca Swiss cubes (we can dream, right?),
Lurking in the shadows of the photography world, retouchers are the hidden muscle behind so much imagery produced nowadays.
Hiring a retoucher is ultimately a personal choice. It’s an approach that many photographers take, but just like outsourcing any part of your business, there are pros and cons.
In an unassuming late-modernist building in Saint John’s Wood near the legendary Abbey Road crossing, sits Maido Sushi. Once an old post office, this architectural gem was given quite the facelift by Child Studio. Careful to preserve the original modernist charm, but introduce “a subtle blend of European and Japanese design influences” to the interior, Child Studio crafted a perfectly balanced space.
Icons of the modernist movement, Charles and Ray Eames, taught us to see the world differently. “Eventually, everything connects – people, ideas, objects…the quality of the connections is the key to quality” Charles Eames famously stated. Over their remarkable career, the Eames cultivated a design process where ‘learning by doing’ was their mantra and who vowed to never to delegate understanding.
Here at AP Almanac, we talk a lot about copyright infringement — and not without reason. Most clients have no idea that the photos you send them are not actually their property, and that they (in most cases) can’t just do whatever they want with the images. It’s so important to explain what your clients can and cannot do with the photos you’ve licensed to them so you don’t get questions like:
“Well, wait a minute, I paid for the photos – how do I not own them?
Today’s top-notch POTW is a parking garage. Yep…a parking garage. This story is full of drama, with stray bullets delaying the shoot date and Garey and his assistant hauling gear all over the streets of Atlanta!
That’s right, today we are checking out the gorgeous work of Georiga-based architectural photographer Garey Gomez.
When it comes to Photoshop tutorials and luminosity masking software I have two clear favorites: Unmesh Dinda and Lumenzia. It was a no-brainer to share this PiXimperfect video featuring an extensive review of Lumenzia.
Unmesh’s teachings are extensive and clear. This allows you to easily transport the techniques learned into your architectural photography workflow.
Shanghai is known for its glitz and glamor – a showpiece city exemplifying China’s thriving economy and emergence as a global superpower. Its iconic skyline defines the city internationally and, compared to some of its ancient counterparts, many of which have rich histories dating back thousands of years, Shanghai is a Chinese city that is sometimes thought of as having little history at all.
This week’s featured project takes us to a small German village with photographer Paulina Ojeda. Paulina’s work sports a very natural and unfussy style, giving off a solid sense of place that works perfectly for the greenhouse-inspired “Merz Haus,” by architect Otto Merz. Paulina has a lot of great intel for us about this shoot, so I’ll let her take it away!
It’s time for the 17th annual Venice Biennale! May 22nd through November 21st 2021, the Biennale Architettura explores the theme “How Will We Live Together?” can be attended in Venice, Giardini, and Arsenale. The Biennale features international architecture and is curated by Lebanese architect Hashim Sarkisand.
What are the key factors that drive architectural photographers to shoot tethered? I have been shooting untethered for the last 3 years and the question has popped up more than once in my mind. Recently there was an opportunity here at APAlmanac to do a review of the CamRanger 2 (Thanks Dave!)
We’re back with the Arizona-based super duo Roehner + Ryan for this week’s featured project! Today we are taking a look at their ultra clean, ultra sexy, ultra gorgeous photographs of NVK Design’s Osborn Residence.
Jason Roehner shares that Osborn Residence came about when “the owner bought an older ranch style home to tear down.
A few months ago, B&H Photo deeply discounted Canon’s beloved workhorse, the 5DS R.
When we say deeply discounted, we mean deeply — shedding $2,400 off to be exact! That puts the 5DS R at just under $1500, making it a perfect addition to your camera bag.
There is one tiny hiccup we ran into.
Power Structures is a new photographic exhibition co-curated by architectural photographer Luke O’Donovan and architect/urban planner and photographer Francisco Ibáñez Hantke. The exhibition focuses on how socioeconomic and political structures shape the built environment and the far-reaching footprint of urban expansion.
Welcome back to another rad Project of the Week by Australian architectural photographer Tom Blachford! If, like me, you also drooled over the series Midnight Modern where he photographed Palm Spring’s finest by the light of the full moon, you can expect more nighttime shenanigans from Tom’s second personal project Nihon Noir.
I really don’t know how I could do my post-processing job without luminosity masking. When I mentioned this in my article The Architectural Photographer’s Digital Toolbox, many asked me to show my workflow with luminosity masking. While it is impossible to sum up in one single article, because I really use this tool for everything, I can make a start and give you a look into my process!
For those of us who came to photography after already working in another profession, we know how liberating a feeling it is to finally free yourself from your original job to pursue your passion. Why not take that a step further, and truly zero in and direct all your energy into what it is you enjoy most.
I love the expansive scope of what architecture photography can be. Garett Buell of StudioBuell‘s work is a prime example. Some days he’s in Nashville shooting “Gilly Huts,” other’s he photographing penthouses downtown, but today Garett is taking us on a fun departure from sprawling mod mansions and skyscrapers to a snowy Amish apple orchard in Pennsylvania.
Every market is different. Architectural photographers in the USA will operate differently than those in Asia, and again differently than those based in Europe. That being said, there will also be many similarities. That is why it might be useful for you if I share my experiences in recruiting clients, from my first year in business up until now (my 7th year).
Mike Kelley
Lexi Taciak
Ramon Portelli
Justin Szeremeta
Zvonimir Stamenov
Dane Alonso
Rob van Esch